First off welcome to the site. You have several options with the cooker you are building. At FB that is 127% is too big. Most of us builders shoot for 105%-110%. This allows for the best efficiency. You may want to consider purchasing a set of plan from smokerplans.net. There are hundreds of plans and I'm sure Frank has one that matches your build. There are several documented builds on this site that show how to build the baffles for the warming cabinet. Here is a link to one I just finished. viewtopic.php?f=11&t=4235
I think you have some good plans, I have a similar cooker. I'm going to be modifying the one I have buy putting a warming cabinet over the FB. I will have one on both ends then. But I would like to say if you go forward with your plan, do include the vertical in the CC dims as far as the Pit Calc goes. But if you put it over the FB you don't have to. And if you put 1" air gap or even better 1" insulation, then put a opening between the FB and the WC you can be as adjustable as you want.
Jm2cw
Current Smokers: Backyard RF Offset and Hybrid RF Offset trailer rig with Cowboy cooker and fish fryer, always room for more........
Well Said crs........welcome to the site.
I personally perfere the type of build crs posted. Warming cabinet over the firebox. I've just seen to many guys fall over with joy at how great they run.
Each to there own tho. Any build that cooks good and the owner is happy with its a great build.
I too would suggest buying plans. The support is priceless.
CRS- thanks for the input. I had read where 105 was optimum. I didn't realize 127 was too much. I will play with the numbers and get it in the 105-110 range. I read thru your attachment on your latest cooker. Look great!
Rodcrafter- thanks for the advise.
I am leaning hard to have the Vertical CC on the opposite from the FB. I hope to get this one built then build a very similar cooker to CRS's attached above for smaller gatherings w/ WC and definitely add the direct heat option! Plus I want to do some comps.
But First I wanna build this cooker with the least amount of mistakes as possible.
The FB opening to the CC...I'm struggling with the opening as far as how high to raise it to the cooking grate.
Welcome.... Looks like your setup is over 14' long... I like this part " but first I wanna build this cooker with the least amount of mistakes as possible"
I said that 4 times already....hope you're better at it than I am good luck and looking forward to seeing a bunch of pictures !
Make no mistake, there ain't no powder in this Puff ! And... I'm not really a crazy person but I play one in real life
Puff- atleast cutting the ends was easy and safe all though my welder kept saying he didn't see why we needed to put water in it prior to cutting...
I've been on the sidelines. I jumped in the game today. My head was spinning at work with all the info I've read and from cooker pics I've seen for years and cookers I've actually used.
Oh geez... I couldn't agree more. It has only been my ADHD focusing inabilities that has truly prevented my builds from going as we'd like. I had welded on and cut off parts as many as 3 times trying to get it right. Eventually, it comes together but I have had a few of the DUH! Moments.
But I do not disagree with you...I aplaud your ambitious desire. Even the most expert of experts has been known to mess up. Hey, it's metal...you can always cut it off or add it back on. My best friend became the grinder! My newest best friend will be the plasma cutter
Ps....don't forget the pictures I
Make no mistake, there ain't no powder in this Puff ! And... I'm not really a crazy person but I play one in real life
What I do is cut the opening as BigT stated. It begins at the bottom of the CC holds the edge then goes as high as is required to get the square inches of opening required by the calculator. The BP/tuning plates goes in just above the top of that opening and is the top of the FB.
jm2cw
Current Smokers: Backyard RF Offset and Hybrid RF Offset trailer rig with Cowboy cooker and fish fryer, always room for more........
First if you allow Frank Cox AKA "OB1" at smokerplans.net
You don't have to do all the calculations yourself. But if you do them yourself we have a link on the home page about 2/3 down the list.
I'm glad to see you are getting the plan down. About 3/8" that's all I have used 1/4" will work. But I believe in heavy as long as you make it useable. Like some people using square doors so you don't have to lift them and it increases the CC size. Otherwise I would use an counterweight to help opening the CC.
Current Smokers: Backyard RF Offset and Hybrid RF Offset trailer rig with Cowboy cooker and fish fryer, always room for more........
I recommend to put one on 2 sides of the FB, my reason for this is if the wind is blowing this gives you an option of which one you want to use. Or you can use both and get a more even burn on the fire.
Current Smokers: Backyard RF Offset and Hybrid RF Offset trailer rig with Cowboy cooker and fish fryer, always room for more........
Rod- Thanks for your response. That was part of my thinking. Am I interpreting the FB intake calc's correctly, if 300 sq in's are recommended you can get that volume from 1 or more?
On the chimney calc's they do not account for multiple chimenys so you just use the size chimney you plan on and add as you like. Since you will be adjusting them anyway?